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Falcon Heights Home Guide to Emergency Preparedness

Handling Mail Safely

Each day the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) handles 600 million pieces of mail. The USPS urges people to report suspicious letters or packages such as mail that:

  • Has excessive postage, no postage, or non-canceled postage.
  • Has no return address or a fictitious return address.
  • Has an improper spelling of addressee names, titles, or locations.
  • Looks lumpy or has a lopsided appearance.
  • Is sealed with excessive amounts of tape.
  • Is unexpected and is from a foreign country.
  • Has a postmark showing a different location than the return address.
  • Displays distorted handwriting or cut-and-paste lettering.

If you receive a suspicious letter or package:

  • Do not open it.
  • Do not shake, bump or sniff it.
  • Cover it or place it in a plastic bag.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Call the police non-emergency number.

The police are interested in suspicious mail that displays any of these signs.

If you have opened the letter or package and detected an unknown substance, such as white powder, cover it, wash your hands and call 911. Do not attempt to move the suspicious item. Do not shake it, sniff it or taste the substance.

In most cases the police will be dispatched for a report of an unopened suspicious letter or package and will advise you what to do with it after investigating it.

If the letter or package does not meet specific criteria, they may simply advise you to dispose of the suspicious letter or package if you are uncomfortable opening it.

The fire department will respond to reports of suspicious substances for evaluation and proper disposal. When in doubt, however, call 911.

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